hey all! i'm new, i have a 29g with 5 fancies and 2 algae eaters and 1 pleco. i had one more oranda... but he died the other day (i'm not sure why!) i noticed he didn't seem to be feeling well and the algae eater sucked some scales off. when i woke up the next morning, he was stuck to the filter and the algae eater had eaten ALL his scales off. it was really gross. basically my question is... why did the algae eater do that? is this what i have to look forward to if any other fish die? the fish all enjoy playing together and have weekly water changes, etc... anyways, all responses appreciated!
algae eater meanie...
- Thread starter smittenkitten
- Start date
Since you asked about the algae eater first, we'll start there. If it's a chinese algae eater, Gyrinochelius aymonieri (actually from Thailand lol), then yes they will often feed on sick and dying fish, and sometimes even attack healthy ones. As they grow older, they also tend to sour considerably in disposition, not to mention that they can reach sizes up to a foot (though many on the web will try to tell you they top out at about 4-5), they are overall not good candidates for your 29 gallon. Additionally, if your pleco is a common pleco, it will also outgrow your tank. In reality, a 29 gallon is not really suitable for the majority of your fish. At MOST, a 29 is really only sufficient for 2 adult goldfish (not even that imo), and the rest will eventually have to go or be re-homed. You said you're unsure of why your oranda passed, but without any tank readings, (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite etc...) we can't tell you with certainty either, though it seems like it was due to inappropriate, stocking levels and decisions. Even with your weekly w/c schedule, I'd bet that levels remain in dangerous ranges for a large amount of the time. In the end, my best advice would be to return all of your fish, and re stock with small tropicals that are more suited to life in a 29.
:welcome: Hi Smittenkitten, welcome to AC! Hopefully we can be of some help to you.
Inka is correct - many "algae eaters" will turn on their tankmates as they age. "Chinese algae eaters" are the most likely to do so, as they require more protein in their diets as adults. The slime coat on other fish is a great source of protein, so if you haven't been feeding a variety of foods rich in vegetable matter and protein, algae eaters can turn to sucking on other fish.
I also agree with Inka about the size of your fish, the stocking of the tank, and possible re-stocking. You'll need to move out some of those fish to keep a healthy, happy tank in the long run.
If you are interested in finding out why your oranda died, we'll need to know water parameters. These can be checked with any good home test kit - don't try taking a water sample to your local fish store (LFS), as their tests are often unreliable. It's a good idea to determine the cause of your fish's death, since he could have died from parasites, communicable diseases, or unsafe water parameters.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Inka is correct - many "algae eaters" will turn on their tankmates as they age. "Chinese algae eaters" are the most likely to do so, as they require more protein in their diets as adults. The slime coat on other fish is a great source of protein, so if you haven't been feeding a variety of foods rich in vegetable matter and protein, algae eaters can turn to sucking on other fish.
I also agree with Inka about the size of your fish, the stocking of the tank, and possible re-stocking. You'll need to move out some of those fish to keep a healthy, happy tank in the long run.
If you are interested in finding out why your oranda died, we'll need to know water parameters. These can be checked with any good home test kit - don't try taking a water sample to your local fish store (LFS), as their tests are often unreliable. It's a good idea to determine the cause of your fish's death, since he could have died from parasites, communicable diseases, or unsafe water parameters.
Good luck and keep us updated!
That is why I stick to SAE - Siamese Algae Eaters:
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algaetable.htm
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algaetable.htm
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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- Paul
CAE (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) no doubt. I made a mistake like this before. I really regret it not realizing the CAE's would be capable of such damage.
More information here on your choice of algae eaters.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132241
More information here on your choice of algae eaters.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132241
I am keeping a close eye on my CAE's. Though if they become too troublesome then they will have to find a new home. I plan to send 4 of the 6 back to the ex when hes back to collect his plec. Really dont have the space in my tanks to house them all when they reach full size.